Presenting the $30,000 check during the March 27 Lynnwood Rotary lunch meeting is President Sue Venable (far left). Accepting the grant on behalf of the Edmonds School District are (left to right): Mountlake Terrace Elementary Principal Doug Johnson; Early Learning Manager Karen Schreiber and Superintendent Nick Brossoit.

As a line of kindergarten students walk past Mountlake Terrace Elementary Principal Doug Johnson’s office window, he can see the difference. Students know more English and more math.

“I’ve seen the difference it makes,” he shared with Lynnwood Rotarians. “It changes the whole trajectory. Preschool sets the foundation for our kids.”

This is the fourth year, in partnership with the Lynnwood Rotary, that a parent partnership called Edmonds PreK: A Family Learning Experience program has been offered and is now open at 10 elementary schools.

It runs for two hours, one day a week at each location. A $30,000 Lynnwood Rotary grant will add a second day at Beverly, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and College Place Elementary Schools.

“It will give our kids twice the head start,” Johnson said.

“This has real impact on lives,” Superintendent Nick Brossoit added.

Edmonds PreKindergarten at Beverly Elementary is one of the four schools that will now be offering the parent partnership program two hours, two times a week thanks to the Lynnwood Rotary funding the additional day each week. Pictured is a typical day at the program where parents work side-by-side with their preschool-age child on six areas of learning crucial to success in kindergarten.

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1 Comment

This is wonderful news, and is in line with the Dept. Of Early Learnings research on the impact of preschool, and it’s importance in getting children ready for school. However, Edmonds Schools are dropping the ball when it comes to Kindergarten itself. Too many schools have limited access to funds for full day Kindergarten, creating a huge gap in early learning. The full day day program, at a cost of $370/month widens the education gap between low and middle to upper incomes. It’s time Edmonds puts it’s money where it’s mouth is and secure funding for PAID full day Kindergarten in ALL of it’s elementary schools.

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